Posted: Wed Aug 21, 2013 4:18 am Post subject: The Book of Five Rings/Demon's Sermon on the Martial Arts

Strange as it may seem, not every Western produced comic dealing with premodern Japanese history is a hack job like Dark Horse's 47 Ronin or stuff that looks more like the latest wuxia film from Hong Kong than samurai Japan (take your pick...Samurai's Blood, Shogun of Steel, and dozens of others). Two recent releases from Shambhala, graphic novel adaptations of The Book of Five Rings and The Demon's Sermon on the Martial Arts, show that it can indeed be done artfully, accurately, and entertainingly. Read our review on the Shogun-ki for more.

Shambhala is supposed to be sending me a copy to review. Based on the first 30 pages, it's an accurate retelling of the Chushingura legend, but not an accurate account of the historical incident. Very nice culturally and historically accurate artwork as opposed to Sakai's version.